2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)

2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Tournament details
Dates 18 August 2004 – 16 November 2005
Teams 51 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played 282
Goals scored 778 (2.76 per match)
Top scorer(s) Portugal Pauleta (11 goals)

Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for UEFA teams. A total of 51 teams took part, divided in 8 groups – five groups of six teams each and three groups of seven teams each – competing for 13 places in the World Cup. Germany, the hosts, were already qualified, for a total of 14 European places in the tournament. The qualifying process started on 18 August 2004, over a month after the end of UEFA Euro 2004, and ended on 16 November 2005. Kazakhstan, which transitioned from the Asian Football Confederation to UEFA after the end of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, debuted in the European qualifiers.

The teams in each group would play against each other in a home and away basis. The team with the most points in each group would qualify to the World Cup. The runners up would be ranked. For the sake of fairness, in groups with seven teams, results against the seventh placed team were ignored. The two best ranked runners up would also qualify to the World Cup. The other six runners up were drawn into three home and away knock out matches, winners of those matches also qualifying.

The race to join hosts Germany at the 2006 FIFA World Cup featured an unlikely winner in Europe, where Ukraine became the first team to qualify, having finished above Turkey, Denmark and Greece in arguably the continent's toughest qualifying group.

France had its first successful World Cup qualifying campaign in twenty years as they had missed the 1990 and 1994 tournaments, then qualified automatically as hosts in 1998 and as defending champions in 2002.

Serbia and Montenegro and Croatia also advanced to Germany at the head of their sections, the former forcing Spain into the play offs in the process. Besides the eight group winners, two teams progressed automatically as best runners up, namely Poland and Sweden while the play offs offered a second chance to six others.

Qualification seeding (UEFA)

The draw was made on 5 December 2003 in Frankfurt, Germany. Germany qualified automatically as hosts. The other seedings were determined by points per game in the qualifiers for 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification and UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying.[1]. France qualified automatically for the 2002 FIFA World Cup as title holders, so only their record in UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying was used. Portugal qualified automatically for UEFA Euro 2004 as hosts, so only their record in World Cup 2002 was used. Kazakhstan were not ranked by this system as they did not participate in either competition.

For domestic clubs involved in international club competitions reasons, England, France, Italy and Spain were drawn into groups of 6 teams.

The national teams which eventually qualified for the final tournament are presented in bold and the national teams who took part in the play-offs are presented in italic.

Pot A Pot B Pot C Pot D

 France 3.00
 Portugal 2.40
 Sweden 2.39
 Czech Republic 2.31
 Spain 2.31
 Italy 2.31
 England 2.31
 Turkey 2.22

 Netherlands 2.17
 Croatia 2.12
 Belgium 2.06
 Denmark 2.05
 Russia 2.05
 Republic of Ireland 1.94
 Slovenia 1.89
 Poland 1.89

 Bulgaria 1.89
 Romania 1.87
 Scotland 1.81
 Serbia and Montenegro 1.72
  Switzerland 1.61
 Greece 1.56
 Slovakia 1.50
 Austria 1.50

 Ukraine 1.50
 Iceland 1.44
 Finland 1.37
 Norway 1.33
 Israel 1.31
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.31
 Latvia 1.25
 Wales 1.22

Pot E Pot F Pot G

 Hungary 1.19
 Georgia 1.06
 Belarus 1.00
 Cyprus 0.89
 Estonia 0.89
 Northern Ireland 0.78
 Lithuania 0.75
 Macedonia 0.75

 Albania 0.69
 Armenia 0.67
 Moldova 0.67
 Azerbaijan 0.50
 Faroe Islands 0.44
 Malta 0.11
 San Marino 0.06
 Liechtenstein 0.06

 Andorra 0.00
 Luxembourg 0.00
 Kazakhstan 0.00

First round

Summary

  Winner of each group and two best runners-up qualified directly for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
  Other teams were eliminated after the first round
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Group 7 Group 8

Netherlands

Ukraine

Portugal

France

Italy

England

Serbia and Montenegro

Croatia

Czech Republic

Turkey

Slovakia

Switzerland

Norway

Poland

Spain

Sweden

Romania

Finland

Macedonia

Armenia

Andorra

Denmark

Greece

Albania

Georgia

Kazakhstan

Russia

Estonia

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Israel

Republic of Ireland

Cyprus

Faroe Islands

Scotland

Slovenia

Belarus

Moldova

Austria

Northern Ireland

Wales

Azerbaijan

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Belgium

Lithuania

San Marino

Bulgaria

Hungary

Iceland

Malta

Groups

The first round is group play. A win is awarded 3 point, a draw 1 point and a loss 0. The winner of a group is the team with the most points.

Group 1

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Netherlands 121020273+2432
 Czech Republic 129033512+2327
 Romania 128132010+1025
 Finland 125162119+216
 Macedonia 122371124139
 Armenia 12219925167
 Andorra 12129434305
  Andorra Armenia Czech Republic Finland Republic of Macedonia Netherlands Romania
Andorra  0–3 0–4 0–0 1–0 0–3 1–5
Armenia  2–1 0–3 0–2 1–2 0–1 1–1
Czech Republic  8–1 4–1 4–3 6–1 0–2 1–0
Finland  3–0 3–1 0–3 5–1 0–4 0–1
Macedonia  0–0 3–0 0–2 0–3 2–2 1–2
Netherlands  4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 0–0 2–0
Romania  2–0 3–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 0–2

Group 2

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ukraine 12741187+1125
 Turkey 12651239+1423
 Denmark 126422412+1222
 Greece 12633159+621
 Albania 124171120913
 Georgia 1224614251110
 Kazakhstan 120111629231
  Albania Denmark Georgia (country) Greece Kazakhstan Turkey Ukraine
Albania  0–2 3–2 2–1 2–1 0–1 0–2
Denmark  3–1 6–1 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–1
Georgia  2–0 2–2 1–3 0–0 2–5 1–1
Greece  2–0 2–1 1–0 3–1 0–0 0–1
Kazakhstan  0–1 1–2 1–2 1–2 0–6 1–2
Turkey  2–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 4–0 0–3
Ukraine  2–2 1–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–1

Group 3

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Portugal 12930355+3030
 Slovakia 12651248+1623
 Russia 126512312+1123
 Estonia 125251617117
 Latvia 124351821315
 Liechtenstein 122281323108
 Luxembourg 120012548430
  Estonia Latvia Liechtenstein Luxembourg Portugal Russia Slovakia
Estonia  2–1 2–0 4–0 0–1 1–1 1–2
Latvia  2–2 1–0 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–1
Liechtenstein  1–2 1–3 3–0 2–2 1–2 0–0
Luxembourg  0–2 3–4 0–4 0–5 0–4 0–4
Portugal  4–0 3–0 2–1 6–0 7–1 2–0
Russia  4–0 2–0 2–0 5–1 0–0 1–1
Slovakia  1–0 4–1 7–0 3–1 1–1 0–0

Group 4

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 France 10550142+1220
  Switzerland 10460187+1118
 Israel 104601510+518
 Republic of Ireland 10451125+717
 Cyprus 10118820124
 Faroe Islands 10019427231
  Cyprus Faroe Islands France Israel Republic of Ireland Switzerland
Cyprus  2–2 0–2 1–2 0–1 1–3
Faroe Islands  0–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3
France  4–0 3–0 0–0 0–0 0–0
Israel  2–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–2
Republic of Ireland  3–0 2–0 0–1 2–2 0–0
Switzerland   1–0 6–0 1–1 1–1 1–1

Group 5

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Italy 10721178+923
 Norway 10532127+518
 Scotland 1034397+213
 Slovenia 103341013312
 Belarus 102441214210
 Moldova 10127516115
  Belarus Italy Moldova Norway Scotland Slovenia
Belarus  1–4 4–0 0–1 0–0 1–1
Italy  4–3 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–0
Moldova  2–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–2
Norway  1–1 0–0 1–0 1–2 3–0
Scotland  0–1 1–1 2–0 0–1 0–0
Slovenia  1–1 1–0 3–0 2–3 0–3

Group 6

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 England 10811175+1225
 Poland 10802279+1824
 Austria 104331512+315
 Northern Ireland 10235101889
 Wales 10226101558
 Azerbaijan 10037121203
  Austria Azerbaijan England Northern Ireland Poland Wales
Austria  2–0 2–2 2–0 1–3 1–0
Azerbaijan  0–0 0–1 0–0 0–3 1–1
England  1–0 2–0 4–0 2–1 2–0
Northern Ireland  3–3 2–0 1–0 0–3 2–3
Poland  3–2 8–0 1–2 1–0 1–0
Wales  0–2 2–0 0–1 2–2 2–3

Group 7

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Serbia and Montenegro 10640161+1522
 Spain 10550193+1620
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 10442129+316
 Belgium 103341611+512
 Lithuania 1024489110
 San Marino 100010240380
  Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Lithuania San Marino Serbia and Montenegro Spain
Belgium  4–1 1–1 8–0 0-2 0–2
Bosnia and Herzegovina  1–0 1–1 3–0 0–0 1–1
Lithuania  1–1 0–1 4–0 0–2 0–0
San Marino  1–2 1–3 0–1 0–3 0–6
Serbia and Montenegro  0–0 1–0 2–0 5–0 0–0
Spain  2-0 1–1 1-0 5-0 1–1

Group 8

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Croatia 10730215+1624
 Sweden 10802304+2624
 Bulgaria 104331717015
 Hungary 104241314114
 Iceland 101181427134
 Malta 10037432283
  Bulgaria Croatia Hungary Iceland Malta Sweden
Bulgaria  1–3 2–0 3–2 4–1 0–3
Croatia  2–2 3–0 4–0 3–0 1–0
Hungary  1–1 0–0 3–2 4–0 0–1
Iceland  1–3 1–3 2–3 4–1 1–4
Malta  1–1 1–1 0–2 0–0 0–7
Sweden  3–0 0–1 3–0 3–1 6–0

Play-offs

Ranking of runners-up

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Comment
 Sweden 10802304+2624Qualified directly
 Poland 10802279+1824
 Czech Republic 107032311+1221Played play-off
 Spain 10550193+1620
  Switzerland 10460187+1118
 Norway 10532127+518
 Slovakia 10451177+1017
 Turkey 10451139+417

Matches

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Spain  6–2  Slovakia 5–1 1–1
Switzerland   4–4 (a)  Turkey 2–0 2–4
Norway  0–2  Czech Republic 0–1 0–1
Key
Bold face = winner. (a) = away goals

Qualified teams

The following 14 teams from UEFA qualified for the final tournament.

Team Qualified as Qualified on Previous appearances in FIFA World Cup1
 GermanyHosts6 July 200015 (1934, 1938, 19542, 19582, 19622, 19662, 19702, 19742, 19782, 19822, 19862, 19902, 1994, 1998, 2002)
 NetherlandsGroup 1 winners8 October 20057 (1934, 1938, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 1998)
 UkraineGroup 2 winners3 September 20050 (debut)
 PortugalGroup 3 winners8 October 20053 (1966, 1986, 2002)
 FranceGroup 4 winners12 October 200511 (1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2002)
 ItalyGroup 5 winners8 October 200515 (1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)
 EnglandGroup 6 winners8 October 200512 (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002)
 Serbia and MontenegroGroup 7 winners12 October 20059 (19303, 19503, 19543, 19583, 19623, 19743, 19823, 19903, 19983)
 CroatiaGroup 8 winners8 October 20052 (1998, 2002)
 PolandBest runners-up8 October 20056 (1938, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 2002)
 SwedenBest runners-up8 October 200510 (1934, 1938, 1950, 1958, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 2002)
 SpainPlay-off winners16 November 200511 (1934, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)
  SwitzerlandPlay-off winners16 November 20057 (1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1994)
 Czech RepublicPlay-off winners16 November 20058 (19344, 19384, 19544, 19584, 19624, 19704, 19824, 19904)
1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.
2 Competed as West Germany. A separate team for East Germany also participated in qualifications during this time, having only competed in 1974.
3 From 1930 to 1998, Serbia and Montenegro competed as Yugoslavia.
4 From 1934 to 1990, Czech Republic competed as Czechoslovakia.

Goalscorers

11 goals
9 goals
8 goals
7 goals
6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal

References

  1. "European Zone Draw for the Preliminary Competition" (PDF). fifaworldcup.yahoo.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
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